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- Tasks: Lead and design scalable cloud-native backend systems with a focus on Java technologies.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company in London with a hybrid work model.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working, and opportunities for mentorship.
- Other info: Dynamic role with potential for long-term engagement and career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of technology while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: 10-15+ years in backend systems, strong Java and cloud experience required.
The predicted salary is between 84000 - 92000 £ per year.
Location: London - Hybrid – 2 days per week onsite
Working Pattern: On call shifts
Start Day: ASAP
Contract Rate: £420 – £460 per day inside IR35
Duration: 6 to 12 months initially
Role Overview
Our client is seeking a Staff Engineer to provide hands-on technical leadership across highly scalable, cloud‑native backend systems. This role suits an experienced engineer who can shape architecture, lead complex initiatives across teams, and mentor engineers while remaining technically deep.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and drive backend technical strategy and architecture
- Design scalable, fault-tolerant, event-driven, and cloud-native systems
- Lead multi-team engineering initiatives and complex system designs
- Build and optimise Java (Java 17+) backend services using Spring Boot or Micronaut
- Design RESTful APIs, messaging systems, and microservices
- Own performance, reliability, security, monitoring, and observability
- Lead system design sessions, architecture reviews, and technical decision-making
- Champion engineering standards, CI/CD, testing, automation, and DevEx
- Mentor engineers and collaborate with Product, DevOps, SRE, and Architecture teams
- Participate in on-call support as required
Skills & Experience
Essential
- 10–15+ years building large-scale backend systems
- Strong Java, Spring Boot (or Micronaut/Quarkus), and JVM expertise
- Deep experience with distributed systems, concurrency, and performance engineering
- Hands-on experience with Kafka, RabbitMQ, or Pulsar
- Strong API design and event-driven architecture experience
- Solid SQL/NoSQL, caching, and data modelling knowledge
- Azure cloud experience with Docker and Kubernetes
Desirable
- CI/CD using GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, or Jenkins
- Automated testing frameworks
- Observability tools (Dynatrace, ELK, OpenTelemetry)
If you have the relevant skills and experience, please do apply promptly to be considered.
Staff Engineer in London employer: Queen Square Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Queen Square Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Staff Engineer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage in online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a Staff Engineer role that’s not even advertised yet!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those involving Java, Spring Boot, or cloud-native systems. This gives potential employers a taste of what you can do before they even meet you.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for technical interviews by brushing up on system design and architecture principles. Be ready to discuss your experience with distributed systems and performance engineering, as these are key for a Staff Engineer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Staff Engineer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Staff Engineer role. Highlight your experience with Java, Spring Boot, and cloud-native systems. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Share your passion for backend systems and how you’ve led complex initiatives in the past. Let us know why you’re excited about this opportunity at StudySmarter.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical expertise! Mention specific projects where you’ve designed scalable systems or mentored other engineers. We love seeing real-world examples of your work.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Queen Square Recruitment
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Java, Spring Boot, and cloud-native systems. Brush up on your knowledge of distributed systems and performance engineering, as these will likely come up during technical discussions.
✨Prepare for System Design Questions
Expect to tackle system design scenarios that test your ability to create scalable and fault-tolerant architectures. Practise explaining your thought process clearly and concisely, as this will demonstrate your leadership skills and technical depth.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
Since mentoring is a key part of the role, be ready to discuss your experience in guiding other engineers. Share specific examples of how you've helped team members grow or how you've led initiatives that required collaboration across teams.
✨Familiarise Yourself with CI/CD Practices
Given the emphasis on CI/CD and automation, make sure you can talk about your experience with tools like GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve implemented these practices in past projects to improve development efficiency.